NOWSHERA: A jirga of Kakakhel tribe here has demanded speedy trial of the accused in the murder of eight-year-old girl so that exemplary punishment could be awarded to the culprits.

Elders of Kakakhel tribe from across the province attended the jirga where prominent among them were Mian Feroz Jamal Shah, advocate Mian Azizuddin, Hamyun Bacha and others.

They said that the evidences in the case were coming gradually, which had exposed the inhuman act of the accused. They said that they would collectively follow the case proceedings. They said that it was easy for the affected family to kill the accused, but they had handed them over to police in line with law of the land.

Meanwhile, DPO Kashif Zulfiqar rejected the claim of advocate Mian Azizuddin that the postmortem report had confirmed rape of the girl, saying there was no mention of rape in the report.

He said that the situation would be cleared after arrival of the DNA report, which could take a few more days. He said that the police and the administration were trying their best to collect information and solid evidence to award severe punishment to the real culprit.

Kakakhel tribe elders hold jirga in Nowshera

NO RIFT IN GOVT: Federal Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has said that there is no internal rift in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The issues that led to the discord have been settled,” Mr Khattak said after inaugurating the nephrology and dialysis centre in Nowshera on Sunday.

“Those who criticise the KP chief minister and provincial government have an axe to grind because their vested interests have been affected,” he added.

The minister said that the provincial government sacked three ministers from the cabinet because they had violated the party discipline. “Action will be taken against those found guilty of indiscipline,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2020